Kennedy Center Honors fetes new inductees, including Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal and Dionne Warwick
New Kennedy Center honorees including comedian Billy Crystal and rapper and actor Queen Latifah have been feted at a star-studded event commemorating their lifetime achievement in arts and entertainment.
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'60 Minutes,' 'Equalizer' strong Sunday punch for CBS
This image released by CBS shows Queen Latifah in a scene from the series "The Equalizer." Latifah's drama, “The Equalizer,” was the most popular scripted show on television last week, the Nielsen company said, trailing only first-place “60 Minutes” and giving CBS a strong one-two punch on Sunday. CBS won the week with an average of 4.6 million viewers in prime time. ABC had 3.9 million, NBC had 3.5 million, Fox had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.6 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million. ABC's “World News Tonight” won the evening news ratings race, averaging 10.2 million viewers.
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Latifah's 'Equalizer' stays strong after Super Bowl premiere
The revenge drama came in third place and had a major, and inevitable, drop after drawing 20 million viewers in the most coveted of all time slots after the network's airing of the “Super Bowl." For the week, CBS was the most-watched broadcast network, averaging 5.2 million viewers in prime time. ABC had 3.8 million, NBC had 3.2 million, Fox had 2.9 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1 million and Telemundo had 990,000. ABC’s “World News Tonight” led the evening news ratings race with an average of 9.5 million viewers. “Equalizer," CBS, 8.2 million.
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Queen Latifah 'stoked' to land post-Super Bowl slot for show
This image released by CBS shows Queen Latifah in a scene from the series "The Equalizer," premiering after the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 7. Her latest chapter comes in the new CBS series "The Equalizer” as the first Black woman to portray the role in the franchise. The show debuts Feb. 7 in the coveted timeslot following the Super Bowl, typically the year's most-watched program. The post-Super Bowl slot has provided monstrous ratings over the years for shows like "Friends,” “Survivor” and "Undercover Boss.”"I'm so stoked that we’re coming on after the Super Bowl," Latifah said Wednesday on a video call. Latifah added: “Hopefully, they’ll start to say, ‘Damn, Latifah is a badass.'
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New this week: 'The White Tiger,' Salt-N-Pepa movie & Rhye
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. “The White Tiger” shows her acting chops in a way that American productions have thus far failed to. The film, from director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (“Blackfish”), is adapted from Matthew Teague’s Esquire article about his own experience. — AP Film Writer Lindsey BahrMUSIC— After a hectic 2020, all you need is the smooth and soothing sound of Rhye to help you start the new year right. — AP Music Editor Mesfin FekaduTELEVISION— The rise and impact of one of the first female rap groups is dramatized in the Lifetime movie “Salt-N-Pepa” (8 p.m. EST Sunday).
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New Queen Latifah drama gets post-Super Bowl debut showcase
LOS ANGELES – Queen Latifah's upcoming drama series has scored a touchdown. CBS says “The Equalizer” will get the coveted post-Super Bowl slot next February to showcase its debut. A special edition of Stephen Colbert's daily “The Late Show” will follow late local news on Super Bowl night, the network also announced. The returning series “FBI” also is getting special treatment, with its season debut following the NFL's AFC championship game on Sunday, Jan. 24. The other daily CBS late-night program, James Corden's “The Late Late Show,” will air a weekend edition on the night of the conference championship and after local newscasts.
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Celebs, long vocal about Breonna Taylor case, decry decision
It’s time for some people to go to jail.” - Queen Latifah, recording artist and actor, in an interview with The Associated Press. Ask yourself ‘Why so long for Breonna Taylor?’” - Stevie Wonder, in a video message. “My heart is broken for the family of Breonna Taylor. once again we’re left with nothing that they try to make seem as something” - Ella Mai, recording artist, via Twitter. “Brett Hankison is indicted for shooting into the apartment NEXT to Breonna Taylor & not for KILLING HER.
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Winfrey, Pitt part of Grammys special for essential workers
FILE - This May 28, 2019 file photo shows Singer Harry Connick Jr. with his daughter Georgia at a special screening of "Pavarotti" in New York. The Grammys is putting together an event featuring Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock and Harry Connick, Jr. to honor essential workers across America. It will follow host Connick Jr. and his filmmaker-daughter Georgia on road trip celebrating and thanking essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK The Grammys is putting together an event featuring Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock and Harry Connick, Jr. to honor essential workers across America. Winfrey, Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Queen Latifah, Rene Zellweger and Drew Brees will also deliver special messages to workers.
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CBS 'optimistic' about fall lineup despite production halt
The Equalizer, a 1980s drama reboot starring Queen Latifah, and the comedy B Positive with Thomas Middleditch are CBS' fall newcomers. The network's schedule, as with those of other outlets, is dependent on when the two-month TV and movie production halt to contain the coronavirus ends or at least eases. CBS isn't ignoring that reality but hopes to see taping resume sometime this summer, said Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment. We are optimistic we're going to have our shows on in the fall. We have five returning strong freshman shows, and that wasn't going to leave a ton of room for new shows," Kahl said.

Harvard to honor Queen Latifah
(CNN) - Queen Latifah will be awarded the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal by Harvard University for her contributions to black history and culture on Tuesday. The icon, whose real name is Dana Owens, wrote "Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman" and hosted her talk show, "The Queen Latifah Show", for almost four years. Du Bois, a scholar, writer, and civil rights activist who was the first black student to earn a doctorate from Harvard in 1895. Du Bois Medal include Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Dave Chappelle, Octavia Hudson and Nasir "Nas" Jones.